10 actionable growth hacks for startups

Do you want to learn how other start-up companies employed growth hacking strategies to bring their businesses to the next level?

Read our 10 actionable growth hacks list and get inspired!

#growthhack1: use exit-intent popups to build a mailing list

Exit-intent popups are pop-ups that will identify when a user is trying to leave from your page and automatically display a last-minute offer or other forms of incentives.

The purpose of exit-intent pop-ups is to capitalize on your visitor’s interest for your product or service and influence him to freely submit his email info.

Exit-intent pop-ups are a great tool for lead generation and can increase conversions.

Key takeaway: use an out-of-the-box copy that attracts visitor’s attention.

image: crazyegg.com

#growthhack2: answer questions on Quora, Reddit, LinkedIn

This growth hack is not a tool, but a long-term strategy.

If you want exposure for your startup, where better place to start than building your personal brand!

Put in time and effort to help people in your niche. Think of it as one of your daily chores and offer your knowledge and experience consistently. Position yourself as the expert in your field and your startup will garner attention and interest.

Key takeaway: be consistent.

#growthhack3: learn about your competitors

Keeping an eye on your competition is an important part of running a successful business.

Do you want to know what your competitors are up to?

Here are three tools you can use to spy on them:

SpyFu - a keyword research tool which provides insights into their most profitable keywords

Ghostry - a Chrome extension that reads any social media add-ons they have working in the background

BuzzSumo - a tool to help you uncover your competitors' content strategy

#growthhack4: create a survey

Consumers are fed up with company messages that are all about “our product”, “our service”, etc.

Treat your consumers as people and ask them questions about a specific topic of discussion that resonates with your niche.

The survey is a great way to make your consumers feel special because you shift your attention from your product to their interests, choices and likes.

It is also a great tool to increase your database and gather important information that you can use to improve and develop your product.

Key takeaway: focus on your customer's needs.

#growthhack5: offer a free version

Having a free version of your product with limited features, known as the freemium model, can be a super effective way to grow your user base.

It works for platforms such as Mailchimp, Canva and Lumen5. The free version of your product helps users wet their appetite for more and bring more users with word-of-mouth marketing alone.

#growthhack7: partner-up

Samsung and Dropbox have been partners since 2011. In 2014 they teamed up again to offer new Samsung devices with pre-installed Dropbox features and extra free 50GB for two years.

Key takeaway: find partners that are relevant to your core customers and offer them value.

#growthhack8: piggyback on a thriving network

Spotify is an excellent example for this particular growth hack.

In 2016, Spotify integrated with Facebook Messenger allowing people to share their Spotify songs or playlists directly within a chat box. This integration accelerated Spotify’s growth through referral traffic. Ultimately, millions of Facebook users also became advocates of the music platform.

Key takeaway: make sure your business adds value to the network you want to tap.

#growthhacking9: referral marketing

Dual-sided rewards encourage users to approach their contacts and engage in word-of-mouth marketing. By leveraging this approach, startups can grow tremendously within short periods.

Evernote’s referral program is primarily responsible for the company’s sizeable growth and financial success. New users who sign up from a referral get a free month of premium, while referrers get points they can redeem toward perks, such as up to 12 months of Evernote Premium.

Key takeaway: make sure both the referrer and the referee receive valuable rewards.

#growthhack10: User-Generated Content

Testimonials, reviews, and comments from delighted buyers are some of the most powerful conversion drivers.

Why is UGC marketing so powerful?

Because consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations and it’s one of the most effective ways to build trust and social proof on social media.

Apple’s #ShotOnIphone campaign is an ongoing customer content campaign at the core of Apple’s marketing strategy. This campaign is actually providing for all content on Apple’s Instagram account: instead of saying “look how great we are”, Apple is showcasing their users’ photographing skills and creativity.